Background The surgery for femtosecond laser created laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)flaps has made great progression recent year,but the postoperative corneal wound healing and regeneration of nerve fibers after surgery are closely concerned.Objective This study was to compare and analyze the clinical outcomes between FEMTO LDV femtosecond laser flap and mechanical microkeratome Hansatome flap in LASIK.Methods A prospective case-controlled study was designed.The serial 38 myopic eyes of 38 patients were included from March through July,2010 in Henan Armed Police Force General Hospital.The patients were randomized into FEMTO LDV femtosecond laser assisted flap group(20 patients/20 eyes)and mechanical microkeratome Hansatome assisted flap group(18 patients/18 eyes)with the matched age,gender and refraction of spherical equivalent.HRT Ⅲ examinations were performed before surgery,1 week,1 month and 3 months after surgery to compare the morphological changes atthe center and margin of the flaps,and evaluate the similarities and differences of cellular morphology after surgery between the two approaches.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to this medical trial.Results The best corrected visual acuity was ≥ 1.0 and the refract diopter was similar in both groups(+0.21 D±0.48 D and-0.04 D±0.54 D)1 month after LASIK.The corneal thickness was insignificant increased in the first week after LASIK,and the density of shallow stromal cells was decreased in 1 week,1 month and 3 months compared with pre-operation in the femtosecond laser assisted flap group(t =-27.99,-25.49,-28.87,P ＜ 0.01).In the Hansatome assisted flap group,significantly thickened corneal epithelium was seen in the first week after LASIK compared before LASIK(56.73 μm±2.47 μm versus 51.16 μm±1.11 μm)(t=9.29,P＜0.05),and the density of shallow stromal cells was decreased in 1 week,1 month and 3 months compared with pre-operation in the Hansatome assisted flap group(t =-17.57,-14.13,-19.63,P =0.00).The density of high reflective interface particles in cornea was lower in 1 week,1 month and 3 months after LASIK in the femtosecond laser assisted flap group than that in the Hansatome assisted flap group,showing significant differences between them(t =-13.505,-11.900,-14.084,P＜0.01).The active stromal cells were seen beneath the interface in both groups in the first week and gradually decreased after that time.Intact corneal nerve fibers were found in the femtosecond laser assisted flap group,but those in the Hansatome assisted flap group were shorter and smaller 3 months after LASIK.At 3 months after surgery,the flap margin showed stromal higher reflection and irregular secondary fibrosis in the femtosecond laser assisted flap group,and in contrast,the flap margin had the appearance of a unclearly identified fibrotic scar in the Hansatome assisted flap group.Conclusions Compared with the LASIK and Hansatome assisted flap,the LASIK with FEMTO LDV flap shows earlier nerve fiber regeneration and greater fibrotic scarring,which imply a good wound healing process in the LASIK with FEMTO LDV flap.

Objective To study the relationship between coronary arteriographic and fluorescence fundus angiographic characteristics in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart disease.Methods The study was carried out by the analysis of the data from coronary arteriography and fluorescence fundus angiography in 203 type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart disease in different groups divided according to age or total cholesterol level. Logisitic regression analysis was applied to explore various risk factors to angiographic characteristics.Results With advancing age,there were more involvement of 3 coronary vessels or the left main branch along with stageⅢretinopathy,but less single vessel diseases in the coronary arteries and less stageⅠretinopathy.The difference in coronary angiographic and fluorescence fundus angiographic characteristics between groups with different total cholesterol levels was not significant.Logistic regression analysis suggested that coronary artery diaease was related to age,sex and blood glucose and triglyceride levels while diabetic retinopathy was related to blood glucose level and age.Conclusion There is great difference in coronary arteriography and fluorescence fundus angiography among different age groups.Aging may aggravate the lesions both in the coronary arteries and fundal vessels in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart diseease.

OBJECTIVEAs our previous comparative proteomics study on high and low metastasis human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell strains revealed that cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was related to higher metastasis potential, we further investigated the relationship between serum CK19 level in HCC patients and their clinico-pathologic characteristics.

METHODSSerum CK19 levels of 101 normal controls and 108 pathology-proven HCC patients were determined using radioimmunoassay, and the their correlation with clinico-pathologic parameters were studied.

RESULTSThe upper limit of one-side 98% confidence interval of normal serum CK19 level was 2.3 microg/L. Among 108 HCC patients, 24 (22.2%) had increased serum CK19 level, ranging from 2.4 to 45.5 microg/L. There were 12 patients (11.1%) with increased CK19 level but normal AFP level. The percentage of poor differentiated tumor was higher in CK19 increased cases (37.5%, 9/24) than in CK19 normal cases (20.2%, 17/84). Moreover, the presence of portal vein tumor emboli was significantly higher in CK19 increased cases (25.0%, 6/24) than in CK19 normal cases (6.0%, 5/84). (Chi-square = 7.403, P < 0.01) In addition, the percentage of TNM stage III/IV tumor was significantly higher in CK19 increased patients (54.2%, 13/24) than in CK19 normal cases. (chi-square = 13.300, P < 0.005)

CONCLUSIONSome HCC patients do have increased serum CK19 level, which could be related to portal vein tumor emboli, poor tumor differentiation and advanced tumor stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; genetics ; Proteome ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological manifestations of early renal amyloidosis (AL) and its diagnostic criteria.

METHODSFifteen cases with early renal amyloidosis admitted from 1994 to 2001 were collected from the hospital, and their clinical and pathological features were reviewed. Of them, the initial diagnoses were not made by depending findings from the light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescense (IF), but confirmed by electron microscopy (EM) afterwards. Immuno-electron microscopy (IEM) were applied for amyloidosis typing.

RESULTSMost patients of early renal AL were in the middle to old age. Nephrotic syndrome was the most prominent symptoms and signs accompanying with rare microscopic hematuria and hypertension. Most of them had a normal renal function. Pathological examinations of renal biopsies using LM and IF showed mild mesangial proliferation and mild thickening of glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Immunoglobulins and complements were negative or only scanty in certain cases, but in all cases there was a light chain protein deposition homogeously. There were 4 cases of minimal change glomerulopathy, 5 cases of mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, 5 cases of stage I membranous nephropathy, and 1 case of cast nephropathy diagnosed with LM. The amyloid fibrils (diameter 8 - 10 nm) were randomly distributed in the mesangium, along GBM and at the arteriolar wall under EM. Additionally, Congo red staining was positive. IEM demonstrated that amyloid fibrils labeled with colloid gold was combined with a kind of light chain protein which was confirmed as the light chain type of AL.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of early renal AL was occasionally neglected by depending only findings of LM and LF. However, special amyloid fibrils can be detected using EM. EM observation is an indispensable technique for the diagnosis of early renal AL and the typing of AL may further be determined by using IEM.

Adult ; Aged ; Amyloidosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basement Membrane ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathologic features and diagnostic algorithm of light chain nephropathy (LCN).

METHODSSeven cases of LCN were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunolabeling of light chains (kappa, lambda) by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTSThe histopathology of 7 cases by light microscopy was variable, with 3 cases showing nodular glomerulosclerosis, 1 case showing mild to moderate mesangial proliferation, and 3 cases showing cast nephropathy with minimal glomerular change. Immunofluorescence study revealed positive staining of a single type of light chain in mesangium (nodular pattern) or along glomerular basement membrane (linear), along tubular basement membrane and around arteriolar walls in all the 7 cases. Ultrastructurally, electron-dense granular deposits were identified in mesangium, subendothelial aspect of glomerular basement membrane, outer aspect of tubular basement membrane and arteriolar walls. Immunogold labeling of light chains showed distinct labeling of a single type light chain in the granular electron-dense materials (5 cases being kappa-positive and 2 being lambda-positive).

CONCLUSIONSLCN typically shows nodular glomerulosclerosis. The ultrastructural change is characteristic and important for diagnosis. Immunolabeling of light chains by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy carries further diagnostic value, especially in cases with minimal light microscopic change.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains ; immunology ; Kidney Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE Lychee seed, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, recently were reported to improve the learning and memory abilities in mice. However, it is still unclear whether lychee seed saponins (LSS) can improve the cognitive function and associated mechanisms. METHODS In present studies, we established the Alzheimer disease (AD) model by injecting Aβ25-35 into the lateral ventricle of rats. Then the spatial learning and memory abilities of LSS- treated rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze, meanwhile the protein expressions of AKT, GSK3β and Tau in the hippo?campal neuron were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS The results showed LSS can improve the cognitive functions of AD rats through shortening the escape latency, increasing the number across the platform, platform quadrant dwell time and the percentage of the total distance run platform quadrant. The protein expression of AKT was significantly up-regulated and that of GSK3β and Tau were decreased remarkably in the hippocampal CA1 area. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to show that LSS significantly improve the cognitive function and prevent hippocampal neuronal injury of the rats with AD by activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, suggesting LSS may be developed into the nutrient supplement for the treatment of AD.

OBJECTIVEIn order to seek the functional evidence that there could be metastatsis suppressor gene for liver cancer on human chromosomes, the objective of this study is to establish a method of microcell mediated chromosome transfer (MMCT).

METHODSHuman chromosome 8 randomly marked with neo gene was introduced into highly metastatic rat liver cancer C5F cell line by treating the single human chromosome donor cells with sequential steps of micronucleation, enucleation and microcell fusion. Double selections of G418 and HAT were applied to screen positive microcell hybrids, which were cloned by single cell isolation. Microcell hybrid clones were confirmed by STS-PCR and WCP-FISH.

RESULTSMicrocell hybrids resistant to HAT and G418 were obtained, from which 15 clones were obtained by single-cell isolation cloning. STS-PCR and WCP-FISH proved that human chromosome 8 had been successfully introduced into rat liver cancer cell line C5F. The human chromosome 8 introduced into C5F was found to have random loss of chromosome fragments by STS-PCR and consistent recombination with rat chromosome by WCP-FISH.

CONCLUSIONThe successfulls introduction of human chromosome into highly metastatic rat liver cancer cell line has established the technical basis for functional localization of metastasis suppressor gene(s) for liver cancer on human chromosomes.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromosome Mapping ; methods ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genetic Techniques ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats

OBJECTIVETracheobronchomalacia is one of the common respiratory tract dysplasia in children. Its symptoms are nonspecific, and routine methods are unreliable in the assessment of tracheobronchomalacia in children. In addition, many physicians are confused about its clinical characteristics, so tracheobronchomalacia is often underdiagnosed. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features of tracheobronchomalacia in children and to investigate the diagnostic value of flexible bronchoscopy for children with tracheobronchomalacia.

METHODFor diagnosis and treatment, 229 children out of 4725 patients hospitalized in the division of respiratory disorders were examined by Olympus BF3c-20 flexible bronchoscopy or by Olympus BF-P20 flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia with propofol, in Chongqing Children's Hosptial from April 2004 to April 2006. Fifty-three cases were confirmed to have tracheobronchomalacia by bronchoscopy, patients' data including airway lesion, age, sex, clinical characteristics, aided examinations, treatment, final outcomes, were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Of the 53 children with tracheobronchomalacia, 31 were not suspected for this diagnosis prior to bronchoscopy, who were instead misdiagnosed as refractory pneumonia, difficult-to-control asthma, bronchial foreign body, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary atelectasis of unknown origin or bronchiolitis. (2) In the 53 children with tracheobronchomalacia aged one month to eight years, 41 were infants, 6 were younger than two years, 4 were younger than 3 years and the rest 2 cases were older than 3 years. The risk of tracheobronchomalacia related inversely with ages. Ten cases were girls and 43 were boys. (3) Eleven cases had tracheomalacia, 24 bronchomalacia, 18 tracheobronchomalacia; 12 cases had malacia on left lung, 11 on right lung, 19 on both sides; 21 children were mild cases, 25 moderate cases, 7 severe cases. (4) In the 53 children with tracheobronchomalacia, 28 had recurrent or prolonged wheezing, 16 chronic cough, 5 recurrent respiratory infections, 2 atelectasis of unknown origin, and 2 dyspnea.

CONCLUSIONSThe infants and toddlers seem to be predisposed more to the bronchomalacia than the older children. Clinical features of children with airway malacia were variable and atypical, expiratory stridor and cough are the most commonly reported symptoms. Flexible bronchoscopy should be regarded as a "golden standard" method for diagnosing TBM.

Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Tracheobronchomalacia ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), p16 and vascular endothclial growth factor (VEGF) proteins and their relationship with clinicopathological features in cervical cancer.

METHODSTissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of MIF, p16 and VEGF proteins in specimens of 10 normal cervical epithelial tissues, 18 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II, III) and 31 cervical squamous cell carcinomas. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of MIF, p16 and VEGF proteins in fresh samples of 3 normal cervical epithelial tissues, 3 CIN (III) and 6 cervical squamous cell carcinomas (3 Ib and 3 IIb).

RESULTSPositive expression rates of MIF were 0, 72.2% and 93.5% in the normal, CIN and carcinoma samples, 20.0%, 33.3% and 71.0% for p16, and 10.0%, 44.4% and 74.2% for VEGF, respectively. The expression rates and levels of the three genes were significantly higher in cervical carcinomas than those in CIN. MIF expression was significantly higher in the cases with lower differentiation (17 cases, P = 0.021), and was positively correlated with VEGF expression (P = 0.0045). VEGF expression rate was significantly higher in both cases of poorly differentiated carcinomas and those with stage II b carcinoma or beyond (P = 0.004, P = 0.008). p16 expression was not found to be correlated with tumor differentiation or clinical stage. It was showed by Western blotting that the expression levels of MIF, VEGF and p16 were significantly higher in the carcinomas than those in CIN or normal tissues.

CONCLUSIONExpression of MIF, VEGF and p16 are probably involved in the process of cervical carcinogenesis. MIF expression is correlated with tumor differentiation. VEGF expression is correlated with both tumor differentiation and clinical stage.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cervix Uteri ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

In an attempt to study the immunoregulatory effect of osteoblasts derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), MSC was induced to differentiate into osteoblasts for one week. The growth pattern and the phenotype were evaluated by MTT and flow cytometry respectively. The immunoregulatory effect was tested by the inhibitory effect on T cell proliferation. The result showed that during the differentiation cells grew fast and there was no significant change in the phenotypes but keeping CD73, CD105, CD44, CD29 positive and CD34, CD45, HLA-DR, CD86 negative. Osteocyte derived from MSC also showed immunosuppressive effect on T cell proliferation in adose-dependent manner. It is concluded that osteoblasts derived from MSC also harbored immunoregulatory effect.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; immunology ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology